Defense might not top Giants' wish list

Subpar season leaves New York with holes to fill in several positions

Published 9:40 pm, Monday, April 22, 2013

The biggest reason the New York Giants missed the playoffs last season was defense.

The unit that helped Tom Coughlin's crew win its second Super Bowl in five years in February 2012 was among the NFL's worst last season

The defensive line didn't get to the quarterback as much, and it certainly didn't stop the run. The linebackers were ineffective and the secondary had trouble covering receivers.

In the end, New York lost two of its final three games and finished 9-7.

So, heading into the NFL draft on Thursday, look for the Giants to fill many holes on defense in the seven rounds.

That doesn't mean, of course, that general manager Jerry Reese will use the 19th pick overall to take a defensive player. Reese has always been a "best player available" selector and New York also has needs on an aging offensive line, particularly at right tackle where David Diehl is coming off a subpar season and center David Baas and guard Chris Snee had off-season surgery.

"We don't like picking 19. That is early for us," Reese said. "We hate picking this high. But hopefully, we can get a player who can come in — I always say this (with) your first three picks — and contribute right away. Hopefully, you will get a couple of starters out of them. Hopefully, we will get a good player at 19. I think we will."

So whom do the Giants take?

If New York picks a defensive lineman, it could take a gamble on Tank Carradine of Florida State. He missed the last two games of the season after tearing a knee ligament, but before the injury, his numbers were impressive (80 tackles, 11 sacks). And keep in mind, Reese has never been afraid to take a player coming off an injury.

New York has a major need at linebacker, as well. Michael Boley was released and middle linebacker Chase Blackburn signed with Carolina as a free agent.

The most interesting name available in the draft is Manti Te'o, who led Notre Dame to the national championship game. He had a subpar game against Alabama, and then was involved in a bizarre hoax featuring an online girlfriend.

Still, this is a player who led Notre Dame in tackles and had seven interceptions. The late George Young, a former general manager of the Giants, always looked at production when evaluating a player, and Te'o produced.

He also visited with Reese.

"He is a very nice young man," Reese said. "And that is all I can really tell you about the conversation that we had with him. He did a good job while he was here."

With former first-round safety Kenny Phillips signing with Philadelphia, there is a bit of a hole at defensive back.New York might be interested if Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro slips. Cornerback is more a concern, though, and Xavier Rhodes of Florida State would be a good choice.